Container handling device



Dec. 13, 1938. a F, DOSCHER 2,140,314

CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 21, 1937 /V [IE/1f TOR Jam,-

A (TOR/KEY Patented Dec. 13, 1938 STATE;

CONT a 1 R HUNG DEVECE 4 Claims.

In the handling of various types of containers, such as milk bottles, forinstance, in process of delivery, it is common practice to gather a number of bottles in the arms when several are to be delivered at one place, and to handle the empty bottles in the same manner. This method of handling the containers is highly objectionable, both from a sanitary point of view and the difficulty of handling the same without dropping or breaking any of them.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide means whereby the con-' tainers maybe picked up and set down, either singly or several at a time, without the necessity of touching them with the hands.

It is another object of the invention to provide means of the character indicated so constructed and arranged that the container cannot be accidentally released. therefrom.

Finally it is an object to provide means of the character indicated that will be economical to manufacture, simple in form and construction, and that will be strong, durable, and highly emcient in its practical application.

In the drawing: I

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of a device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1, parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2, parts being broken away.

In the particular embodiment of the invention herein disclosed the device is capable of handling four containers at one time through the medium of the four units indicated by the reference characters A, B, C, and D. These four units are identical in construction and mode of operation, how ever, therefore but one unit will be described in detail, it being understood that the said unit may be duplicated as desired to secure a device of any desired capacity.

Referring, therefore, more particularly to the drawing the reference character 1 indicates 9. rectangular frame provided with spaced cross-bars Referring now specifically to the unit A, a pair of leaves 5 are pivotally mounted on opposing sides of frame I as at 6, these leaves being disposed to overlie the spaceencompassed by the frame between the end of the frame and the adjacent upright 3.

The inner edges of the two leaves t approach each other along the median line of the device and swing upwardly as indicated by arrows l, the said leaves being normally held in; their lowered horizontal positions by means of springs as at 8. These opposing edges of the leaves have semi-circular segments removed therefrom as at t to form a circular opening iii. In the pres ent instance the opening it has a diameter slight ly greater than the outside diameter of a milk. 3,

bottle neck out less than the outside diameterof the bead encircling the top of the bottle neck.

By means of the construction described the device may be lowered over a bottle so that the neck of the bottle will be thrust upwardly through the opening it, the leaves swinging upwardly to permit the passage of the top of the bottle. When the top of the bottle has cleared the edges of the opening it the spring action will cause the leaves to drop back into place, as shown in solid lines. The device now being raised, the bead on the upper edge of the bottle will seat on the top surfaces of the opposing leaves 5 and may be lifted with no danger of dropping the bottle.

To release the bottle the following mechanism is provided. On the upright 3 are mounted a pair of sheet metal members it to form a guide ii. In the guide it is slidably mounted a bar [13 having an outwardly-directed finger piece it on its upper end. The lower end of the bar is offset as at E5 to seat upon the underlying cross-bar 2, and has a member it mounted thereon in parallel relation to the cross-bar. The member M5 is provided with an arcuate upper edge ii, and the several parts are so arranged that normally the leaves ti rest upon the upper edge of the frame i, but when the bar It is drawn upwardly the member l6 engages them and swings them upwardly.

By means of this last described mechanism the carrier of the device has merely to engage the part It with a finger and pull upwardly on the same when the bottle being carried is placed in position and it is desired to release the same. By lowering the device a little and operating the bar l3 as indicated the leaves 5 are swung upwardly sufficiently far to permit the device to be drawn upwardly over the bead on the bottle neck.

To prevent accidental release of the bottle by twisting the device sidewise thereon, I mount a bar G8 on the sliding bar I3 a little above the normal plane of the leaves 5 as shown. This bar operates as a stop to prevent the leaves opening far enough to permit the top of a bottle to pass between them, when in a normal position, but when the sliding bar I3 is pulled upwardly the bar It moves with it and permits the leaves to open to the desired extent as clearly shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that I have provided a device whereby the operator may quickly pick up several bottles, in the present instance four, convey them to their destiupstanding members mounted thereon and handle connecting said members, bottle-neck engaging leaf members plvotally mounted on opposing sides of the frame, resilient means disposed to urge the leaves into engagement with said frame and cross-bars, and an operating bar having a laterally directed finger-piece on its upper end slidably mounted on each side of each upstanding member, each operating bar being provided with means to engage two opposed leaves to raise the same when the bar is moved upwardly.

2. A bottle carrier comprising, a frame provided with an upstanding centrally disposed membe! provided with a handle, bottle-neck engaging leaf members disposed in pairs on, each side of the upstanding member and pivotally mounted on opposing sides of the frame, resilient means disposed to urge the leaves into engagement with the frame, operating bars having laterally directed finger-pieces on their upper ends slidably mounted on opposite sides of the upstanding -member, each operating bar being provided with means disposed to engage the adjacent leaves and raise the same when moved upwardly.

3. A bottle carrier comprising, a frame pro vided with an upstanding centrally disposed member provided with a handle, bottle-neck engaging leaves pivotally mounted in pairs on opcluding a frame having opposed leaf members pivotally mounted thereon to normally rest on the frame and having their opposing edges formed to engage a bottle neck, an upstanding handle on the frame, an operating bar having a laterally directed finger-piece mounted for vertical sliding movement on the handle and provided with means to raise the leaves when moved upwardly; of a cross-bar mounted on the operating bar to overlie both leaves to limit the swinging movement of the leaves relative to each other.

BERNHARD F. DoscHER. 

